"Dramawebben" : Selecting technical solutions for digitization

This study is predominantly qualitative. It is also descriptive to a large extent and notoriented towards hypothesis-testing. The study aims at studying what has influenceddigitization of old Swedish dramatical works through the Dramawebben projekt, whilefocusing on the technical solutions. Four different data collection methods have been applied.Interviews and a questionaire with open-ended questions were the two primary tools. Adocument analysis and observations were applied as well.Examples from earlier research to relate to questions about digitization as an institutional andsocietal practice are presented. These earlier studies also explain the major aspects oftenrelated to the digitization process. This study particularly takes up types of digitization, the"Effective Technical and Human Implementation of Computer Systems" (ETHICS) as well asthe "Normalisation process theory" (NPT). A more extensive theoretical framewok focusingon particular concepts and terms relating to preconditions for digitization has also beenempasized. Technical, social, organizational as well as other preconditions and influences ondigitization have been presented in theory.Previously neglected copyright-free and hand-written Swedish plays were to be made moreaccessible and collectively preserved through the Dramawebben-project. The project hasgrown to emphasize even improved usability. The main technical solution of the project is thedevelopment of the web-based digital service "Dramawebben". TEI1-coding has most recentlybeen adapted by the project group as a technical solution to facilitate easier and more effectiveretrieval from the collection. Those involved in the project have witnessed both obstacles andpossibilities but Dramawebben´s strategy for quality assurance has led to accomplishmentsthat have yielded a wider scope of users.In the wake of different and sometimes opposing standards and recommendations as wellacceleratingly more advanced and complex technologies, there has emerged at least one majorquestion during this study: How can planners guarantee long-term projects for the digitizationof cultural heritage? While the implication of “project” may be “time limit” and whereas“long-term” may be difficult to define, we should not forget that making accessible andlong-term preservation are fundamental for digitization.Program: Masterutbildning: Digitala tjänster - kultur, information & kommunikatio